Emergency-bumper for vehicles



F. R. L. STOTT AND E. E. SHIERK. EMERGENCY BUMPER FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2, I920.

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Patented 0c 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

44 f. v 1 i m iT kw F. R. L. STOTT AND E. E. SHIERK.

EMERGENCY BUMPER FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2. I920. 1,355,182.

UNITED STATES CANADA.

PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK n. L. s'rorr AND ELI E. SHIEBK, or HAMILTON, oN'rAEIo, CANADA,

ASSIGNORS 0E ONE-THIRD 'ro OSCAR w.

HAIsT, or HAMILTON, ONTARIO,

EMERGENCY-BUMPER. Eon v HroLEs.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pat en'td oct; 12 192() Application filed July 2, 1920. Serial No. 393,556. 7

a protective bumper or fender may be in-.

stantaneously lowered or adjusted to protect and pick up any pedestrians who may accidentally assume a position in the path of an approaching vehicle of the class specified.

The invention consists essentially of an elevated casing suitably attached to the forward end of a vehicle and containing an apron rolled upon a roller mounted in said casing and adapted to be unrolled toa position extending from said elevated casing to the ground, air cylinders embodying means for actuating said apron, compressed air tank, air lines, and automatic means for maintenance of the system.

The invention has for its object, primarily to provide a device whereby elimination of fatal accidents and casualties caused by collision between vehicle and pedestrian may be reduced to a minimum by the provision of an instantaneous operative mechanism by affording means in the forward part of the vehicle which may be instantaneously lowered in order to pick up or fend any pedestrian who may inadvertently walk in front of the approaching vehicle.

A further'object is to provide an appliance of the class described which will be operated more expeditiously than would a hand operated mechanical device.

A still further object is to provide a device of the class described which will be simple, durable, efficient in operation, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, at the same time being highly eflicient in its purpose.

'These, together with other objects, may be attained by the construction, combination and arrangement of the parts as will hereinafter be more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended. FVith reference to the accompanying drawlngs, Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus illustrated in connection'with and as may be adapted to an automobile by way of example.

Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of Fig.

1, taken on the line 11;

F ig.'3 is anenlarged detailed front elevation of theactual bumper or fender; I Fig. l is a cross-sectional side elevation of the bumper taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional side elevation'of the apron operating mechanism;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed angularelevation of one of the partsof the bumper; and, j

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the bumper showing the apron in extended position.

Similar reference charac'ters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

As heretofore specified, we illustrate our 7 invention as adapted to an automobile, the Figs. '1 and 2 representing generally. the chassis of an automobile, the frame thereof being designated by A, the wheels by B, the axles by C, the motor or engine by D, the propeller shaft by E, the steering wheel by F, the steering wheel column by H, the cooling radiator byJ, and the'springs by M.

The bumper casing, indicated by 2, is supported in an elevated position from the road by substantially horizontal bracketsB, secured to the forward end part of the frame A, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and includes angular end parts 2". This easing comprises top, sides and ends, the bottom being open.

Mounted and journaledin the casing is a roller 4t and auxiliary rollers 4: all being 'con'nectedby knuckleor universal joints 5.

angular position reaching within a small distance from the ground.

I The free end of said apron is attached to a bar 8 hingedly secured to a connecting rod 9, and adapted, when the said apron is in extended position, to assume a position parallel to the ground by mea ns of the hinges 8*. Rubber or other cushioning and e ng Vmaterial 10 is secured to the t a dppart of'the bar 8.

*Aprons 6 similar to the apron" 6 are tachedand rolled upon the rollers a.

' Flat end pieces 11, rigid with the rollers 4:, are provided for the purpose of applying keys orwren'ches adapted to increase or decrease as the case may be, to "the tension of the springs 6.

' In ordcrto' augment the strength-otthe apron 6, we providea c'ord or tape 12 at slidable therein pistons 15 rigid onone end of the piston rods 16 which pivotally connect with the connectingrods 9 at 18' 1 The said piston rods are sleeved through stationary cross-heads 17 in theinterior 0t the cylinders, and between the cross-heads and the pistons (are inserted spiral push springs 19 adapted to retain the pistons in normal position at'dead center in the oylinderheads 20, as shown in Fig.- 5. v

7 It will be seen that w hile the'pistons 15 are in the above described position, the

apronfiwill be wound upon its roller 4, and

not extended -The connecting rods operate {through longitudinal slots in the cylinders 14 and stops 21 are provided on said rods and 7 adapted to engagetherearends of said slots ward end parts of thecylinders 14, and

having pivot and slot connections at 25 to theconnectingrodst intermediate of their whenthe'pistons 15 have reached their dead 'centersfinthe cylinder heads, and consequently prevent iSEtlCl pistons from striking the cylinder end platesi22. 23 are governor rods 'pivotally connected at'24 'to the forends. Abucketwasher, indicated by 26, is secured to the *pistonin' order to seal compression. 7 ,c

for containing compressed air, is:located in acon'ven'ient and suitable position in-the'chassis, and is shown suspended :the rear frame by way of example.

An air line pipe 28' communicates with the cylinder heads 20 and with the tank 27,-and another air line pipe 29 communicates-withsaid tankand with; an air pump 30 secured-to and operated by'the engine D.

An-automatic check valve 31 in the pipe 29-keeps the air from returning-to the pump 30, afterthe latter has ceased tooperate.

A two-way valve 32 is inserted in an intermediate position in thenpipe 28, and is secured to the steering*eolum'n' 1,

actuated from the'drivers seat by means of a lever 33 rigid with a'stem '34: connected to the said valve and rotatable in a bearing probability of a collision with a pedestrian,

he opens'the valve 32 whereupon the com pressed air in the tank instantaneously forces the pistons 15 to the opposite end of the cylinders 14- and consequently actuating the apron-lowering mechanism.

- The'apronwill remain in extended position until thevalve 32 is closed whereupon it will rewindupon the roller and. the pis' tons 15 wlll be returned to normal position by the springs 19. g

Havlng new fully described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is a 1. In a device of the class described, the combination with the frame of a'vehicle, of

a bumper; secured across the front of the vehicle and having rearwardly deflected end parts, a roller journ'aled in said bumper, short length rollers journaled in the de fleeted portions of said bumper, universal joints connecting isaid rollers, aprons secured to said rollers, bottom rods secured to the free ends of the aprons,*means for lowering and. elevating said bottom rods,

.and'means for re-ro1ling said aprons simul taneously with; the act of elevating said bottom rods; i

2. In a device of the class described,-' the combination with the frame of a vehicle, of a bumper, a roller mounted in the bumper, an apron rolled on said roller,a bottom'rod secured to the free end of said apron, cylinders mounted, in said frame, ,pistonsoperative'in said cylinders, means connecting said pistons with 'saidapro'n andadapted to err tend the same from-said roller to a point near the ground, means for tension-ally retaining said pistonsat dead center at the cylinder heads, and means for actuating *said pistons.

. 3. In a'device of the class described, the combination with'the frame of a vehicle, of a bumper, a roller mounted in the bumper, an apron rolled on said roller,'a bottom'rod secured to the free end of said apron, cylinders mounted in said frame, pistons operative in said cylinders, connecting rods connecting with said piston and with said bottom rod, means for tensionally retaining said pistons at dead'center at the cylinder heads, and means for actuating said pistons.

4-. In a device of the classadescribed, the combination with the frame ofa vehicle, of a bumper, a roller mounted in the bumper, an apron rolled on said roller, a bottom rod secured to the free end' tof said apron', cylinders mounted in said frame, pistons operative in said cylinders, connecting rods connecting with said pistons andwith said bottom rod, stationary cross-heads in said cylinders, spiral push springs in said cylinders between said cross-heads and said pistons, a pipe communicating with the heads of said cylinders and with a source of compressed air, and a controlling valve in said pipe.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with the frame of a vehicle, of a bumper, a roller mounted in said bumper, an apron rolled on said roller, a bottom rod secured to the free end of said apron, cylinders mounted in said frame, pistons having piston rods and operative in said cylinders, connecting rods connecting with said piston rods and with said bottom rod, a movement governing arms pivotally connected to members rigid with said cylinders and having pivot and slot connections with said connecting rods, means for tensionally retaining said pistons at dead center at the cylinder heads, a pipe communicating with said cylinder heads and with a source of compressed air, and a controlling valve in said pipe.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination with the frame of a vehicle, of a bumper, a roller mounted in said bumper, an apron rolled on said roller, a bottom rod secured to the free end of said apron, cyl inders mounted in said frame, pistons oper-,

retaining and maintaining the air pressure 1 in said tank.

In testimony whereof we have afiixed our signatures.

FREDERICK R. L. STOTT. ELI E. SHIERK. WVitness:

H. G, I-IENDRY. 

